by Eric Douglas
*****
“Hello. I’m looking for some information about a company doing business in town,” Andrea Perez said as she walked up to the counter in the city hall building. “It’s the company doing the work on the ship they’re going to sink off shore – Seashore Engineering.”
“What are you looking for, dear?” the middle-aged clerk asked of the petite, dark-skinned Latina.
“Well, whatever you’ve got, I guess. I can’t seem to find any information about them online. I’m looking for names of parent companies or officers. I’d like to know who put up the bond for the work they are doing. Can I just see their corporate papers? I’ll know what I’m looking for when I find it.”
“So, why are you looking for all this information, sweetheart?” the woman asked as she opened a file drawer and began looking.
“I’m with an environmental group out of Ft. Lauderdale, Protect the Reefs, and there are some rumors this company is actually a different organization that’s under investigation for environmental violations in several different states and a couple countries.”
“Now, just hold on a minute here,” Glenn Downing said as he interrupted the conversation. Downing was the local organizer of the artificial reef project. Considering the money and attention he was bringing to the local community, and the amount of money the local area made off scuba diving, the city government gave him office space in city hall to work on the project. “Hold on a minute. I don’t think this young lady has the right to see what’s in those documents, Mrs. Charles.”
“I’m sorry. Just who are you?” Andrea stammered, momentarily taken aback.
“I’m Glenn Downing. I’m putting this whole project together. I’ve raised all the money from private donors and the state, and I’m the one who is going to provide this enormous attraction for the local diving community. It’ll bring millions into the local economy,” Downing said, as he slipped into his standard speech about the benefits of the project.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Downing. I believe those are public documents, just like every other contract with the city and the local citizenry has the right to look them over,” Andrea responded. She had been through similar situations before and now that she knew who she was talking to, she could handle the situation – she thought.
“You might be right, of course, but since you aren’t a citizen of this town, or county for that matter, I don’t think that applies to you. I think you’ll have to ask the city council to see that information. Mrs. Charles here just can’t give it to anyone,” Downing stonewalled. “Besides, this is an extremely reputable company. They provided us with the best references. There is nothing to suspect from them.”
“Are you kidding me?” Andrea retorted, her temper quickly getting the better or her. “What are you trying to hide, Mr. Downing?”
“I think that’s enough,” Downing said imperiously. “As I said, you’ll have to ask the city council for permission to see those records. They meet once a month, on the first Tuesday. They met last night so you’ll have to come back next month.”